I Origins (2014)

Drama

Director: Mike Cahill
Writer: Mike Cahill
Starring: Brit Marling, Michael Pitt, Steven Yeun, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey

"I'd like to tell you the story of the eyes that changed my world."

There are some good movies which overwhelm you and on which you meditate, I Origins is one of them.
Not because of the excellent computer-generated imagery, or the brilliant acting of one of the main characters, or when the story is ingeniously stuffed with strange twists and surprising revelations, but the concept and the deeper meaning behind the story.

Mike Cahill and Brit Marling, the director and the protagonist of Another Earth are working together again. Michael Pitt plays Ian Gray, a graduate student in molecular biology, and he's interested specifically in the evolution of the eye. He becomes obsessed with a strange pair of eyes and manages to find out who they belong to. After a discussion with the lady they realize their different way of thinking about life, which in turn will only strengthen their relationship. Years later, Ian and her colleague Karen manage to score a major breakthrough in their research. Ian puts his life's work in jeopardy, as his quest for the truth eventually leads him to India, where a heartbreaking outcome awaits him.

Plot summary from IMDb: A graduate student, Ian Gray, is researching the evolution of human eyes with Karen and Kenny, in order to discredit creationists by proving that eyes have evolved. Seven years later, when the hospital takes an iris scan of his son and enters into the database, they appear to match with another person's eyes, which suggested that their son may be some sort of reincarnation of the deceased man.

Awards: 2 wins & 1 nomination.
Runtime: 106 min
R